SUMMARY - Wednesday, April 2, 2025 - 9 p.m.

Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - Foreign and European Affairs Minister Juraj Blanar (Smer-SD) is due to travel to Brussels on Thursday (April 3) for a meeting of foreign ministers of NATO-member states, which will be attended for the first time by new head of US diplomacy Marco Rubio, TASR was told by the Foreign Ministry's communications department on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/21908607 Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - The Environment Ministry is prioritising killing bears over scientific evidence, Greenpeace Slovakia spokesperson Miroslava Abelova told TASR in response to the government's approval of emergency measures against the brown bear population on Wednesday, adding that the ministry is undermining efforts to protect the countryside in Slovakia and threatening the ecological integrity of the broader Carpathian region. https://etasr.sk/article/21908723 Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - Checks by Austrian vets assisted by the police may take place near former border crossings with Austria, TASR was told by spokeswoman for the Police Corps Presidium Martina Slavikova in connection with measures concerning foot-and-mouth disease. https://etasr.sk/article/21908724 Detva, April 2 (TASR) - The death of a 59-year-old man, found on Sunday night (March 30) in the woods near Detva (Banska Bystrica region) with devastating traumatic injuries, was caused by a bear attack, the Regional Police Directorate in Banska Bystrica confirmed on social media on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/21908856 Prague, April 2 (TASR) - Czech Agriculture Minister Marek Vyborny plans to ask Slovak Agriculture Minister Richard Takac (Smer-SD) on Wednesday to start testing milk for the presence of foot-and-mouth disease virus, as PCR tests can detect the infection three to five days earlier than symptoms appear in animals, TASR learnt from its special correspondent in Prague on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/21908935 Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - Parliament will discuss the government's proposed amendment to the Civil Aviation Act in an fast-tracked legislative procedure, the MPs decided on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/21909000 Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - Hospice care has been stabilised for now, with all three health insurance companies agreeing to extend contracts with hospice providers for this year, Health Minister Kamil Sasko (Voice-SD) stated at a press conference on Wednesday. https://etasr.sk/article/21909103 Piestany, April 2 (TASR) - The hearing on the conditional release of mob boss Mikulas Cernak at Trnava District Court in Piestany on Wednesday has been adjourned until May 20 and 22. https://etasr.sk/article/21909192 Bratislava, April 2 (TASR) - MPs discussed the government's proposed law on compensation for individuals affected by pandemic measures at the end of Wednesday's session, which would allow those fined for violating COVID-19 measures or who had to pay for meals in state quarantine to seek compensation. https://etasr.sk/article/21909214 Notice: If you click on the link or copy it into the search window, the browser will display the full text of the message in the new e-TASR client zone. If you have any questions, please contact obchod@tasr.sk. lin